Mayor Clifton explains decision against YMCA

Parks operations kept within Nixa

On Sept. 26, Nixa City Council decided against a contract with the Ozarks Regional YMCA. Council did not come to this decision lightly. It was after much discussion with Nixa residents about all of the parks and recreational options that council decided it was best to keep the programming and operations of the Nixa Parks Department with Nixa city operations.

City Council recognizes how this issue has fragmented the Nixa community; therefore, it is council's hope that its decision represents the majority of Nixa citizens' desire and commitment to retain, grow and enhance the city's parks and recreational programs.

The city of Nixa is currently searching for a qualified parks director that will lead this department in a positive direction. City Council's decision comes with an uncompromising direction that the current parks operations are unacceptable and significant changes are expected.

In visits with the YMCA, it was quite obvious as to how a professionally run recreational/fitness facility is supposed to run, and the Ozarks Regional YMCA is an exemplary model. Therefore, our future aspirations are that Nixa's parks program service delivery will reflect and represent the highest regard towards professionalism; all available technology in the delivery of open and continuous marketing communication will be used; and, the success of council's decision is reliant upon the city's unwavering support and openness to further discuss making arrangements for the delivery of a more exceptional product.

Inadequate parkland exists to accommodate both passive and active recreational opportunities for the entire community. Recreational programming is substandard due to the inadequacy of registration fees collected. Too many other public service demands (e.g. police, stormwater, sidewalks) exist for the general fund to adequately address them without offsetting either the delivery of those services or the collection of additional necessary and essential revenue.

Certainly City Council's consideration of the parks programming options over the last five months was for the purpose of assessing these deficiencies. Its decision reflects the conviction that the public supports this conclusion and is enthusiastic about lending their support in its implementation and achievement.

Sincerely,

Sam Clifton, mayor of Nixa

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Mayor Clifton explains decision against YMCA

On Sept. 26, Nixa City Council decided against a contract with the Ozarks Regional YMCA. Council did not come to this decision lightly.